Have you every noticed swollen feet after sitting for a long time? Well, you are not alone. In fact, this is a common problem. Sometimes, the swelling can be a sign of danger, but usually it is not. Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to improve the swelling easily.
Causes of swollen feet after sitting
There are many potential causes for swollen feet. Some are more specific for swelling that happens after prolonged sitting. Here is a list of a few of them:
Dependent edema
This is the most common cause of swollen feet after sitting. Many have not heard of dependent edema before. It is fluid collects in your legs after periods when you are not moving. It is a result of the effects of gravity. For some people it starts at a certain point in life even if it did not exist before. A common example are swollen ankles after flight. Of course, this makes sense if you think about it. Most of us don’t move around much during flight. Also, the cabin pressure is low during flight and that makes the swelling worse.
Leaky vein valves can cause swollen feet after sitting
Veins are supposed to carry blood from the feet back to the heart. Most of the time veins work against gravity. To allow this there are valves inside veins. If these valves malfunction there is pressure buildup in the ankles. This can result in ankle swelling. The swelling is most severe when the feet are down. When you sit for a long time, your legs are down for a long time. This is why people with leaky vein valves get swollen feet after sitting for a long time. Another name for this is venous insufficiency.
Here is a short clip to show you what leaky valves look like when we look with ultrasound:
Blood clot in the veins
The most dangerous cause of leg swelling is a blood clot. Usually the clot will be on one side. Usually there will be other symptoms such as pain. But that is not necessary. If you suspect a clot you should seek medical attention.
Pressure on Veins
Veins drain fluid and pressure away from the feet. Compressed veins do not work efficiently. Tight clothing is something to avoid if you suffer from swollen feet after sitting. But in some people a tumor may be compressing the veins. It is important that your doctor thinks about this if your swelling is new.
Bonus Cause: History of a Blood Clot
If you’ve experienced a blood clot in the past, that could explain your swelling today. This is because blood clots damage veins. People who had a blood clot could develop a condition called post phlebitic syndrome. Swelling is a symptom of post phlebitic syndrome. Also, the swelling could be a result of leftover clot causing elevated pressure in the veins. This is called residual clot. Or, it could be because of leaky veins. This is called venous insufficiency.
Medications that Contributes to Swollen Feet After Sitting
Certain common and less common medications cause swollen feet. Some blood pressure pills called “calcium channel blockers” are known to cause swelling in many people. An example is amlodipine / Norvasc. Steroids may also cause swelling in the feet. The swelling these medications cause can present first while sitting.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy in the feet means that the small nerves in the feet do not work properly. Nerves have many roles in our body. One of these roles is to keep tension on blood vessels. Sometimes neuropathy results in swollen feet. This is similar to dependent edema.
Too much fluid in the body
Some medical conditions are linked to too much fluid in the body. Examples include heart failure and kidney malfunction. Fluid goes to gravity. So often the fluid will go to the legs. This can result in leg swelling. Sometimes the swelling starts to appear after periods of sitting.
Too much pressure in the body
Some medical conditions cause too much pressure in the body. If there is too much pressure in the lungs, that pressure might translate to the feet through the heart. Sleep apnea is a very common and under-diagnosed condition that can cause swollen feet. Other lung conditions like COPD can also affect the pressures in the heart and cause swollen feet.
Pregnancy
Swollen legs during pregnancy are common. There are many reasons for this. First, the hormonal changes of pregnancy result in fluid and salt retention. Also, the uterus presses on the veins. This results in less efficient circulation. Many pregnant women also develop varicose veins. Finally, some pregnant women move less. This can make the swelling even worse.
Solutions for Swollen Feet after Sitting
The solution for swollen feet or leg swelling depends on the cause. The first step is to identify the specific reason for the swelling. Once the reason is identified, it should be treated. Here are a few examples. Many of them are also relevant to swollen ankles after flight:
- Moving around – Walking actually removes fluid from our feet. Even if you have a lot of work to do sitting down, getting up is good for you. The benefits of getting up go beyond your feet. Getting up will help with swollen ankles and feet. But it is also good for your heart and for your weight. For some leg swelling after sitting is an excuse not to get up. They might say “my legs feel heavy and walking is hard”. To those I say: Move. Walking will likely benefit you the most!
- Changing your diet – Salt is not good for our health. Too much salt is linked to high blood pressure and other problems. Too much salt is also linked to swollen feet after sitting. Cutting back on salt may help with the swelling.
- Compression stockings – Sometimes light compression stockings can help prevent swollen feet. You can buy compression stockings at a specialty store or online
. - Blood thinners – If the cause of the swollen feet is a blood clot, the solution is blood thinning. This is not something to deal with on your own. Discuss this option with your doctor.
- Water pills – If there is too much fluid in your body, water pills can help remove it. Water pills do not help with every kind of leg swelling. So if they do not help you talk to your doctor about stopping them.
.Finally, you may want to learn more about some of the reasons for swollen legs. Dr. Michael Jaff offers an overview in this video:
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Staff Writer
